Rule of law principles are spurned. Constitutional protections no longer
apply. Any nation, organization or person designated a state enemy is
targeted.

"Change you can believe in" is polar opposite of what most people
expected. America's empire of bases is global. US special forces operate
in over 120 countries. Proxy death squads supplement them. CIA agents
and assets are everywhere.

Washington's Blog said America's waging 74 wars. It's
"fighting or 'helping' some force in some proxy struggle that has been
deemed beneficial by the nation's masters of war."

At the same time, it's waging "many more covert wars." It bears
repeating, the very notion of peace is abhorrent. Waging war is
prioritized.

Paul Craig Roberts calls America a "gangster state." He does so for good
reason. Its domestic and foreign policies reflect it. No nation ever
harmed more people in more ways globally. None ever spurned rule of law
principles more egregiously.

Waging war on terror's a ruse. It's duplicitous subterfuge. America's
had no enemies since Japan surrendered in August 1945. Manufactured ones
substitute.

Polls show the power of mind manipulation. In late April, a New York Times/CBS News poll showed an astonishing 90% of Americans believe they'll "always have to live with the risk of terrorism."

An equally astonishing 75% believe restricting civil liberties is OK.
Over one-fourth said existing policy measures aren't enough. Another
near 50% said they're about right.

Only 20% said government went too far. Nearly 80% accept mass surveillance. People believe it reduces the threat of terrorism.

No wonder America wages war on humanity easily. It does so at home and
abroad. Domestic opposition barely exists. It bodes ill for what's
likely coming.

Most people are mindless of what threatens their security, welfare and
futures. They're comfortable with what's destroying them in plain sight.
They can't see the forest through the trees.

They're oblivious to a clear, present and ominous danger. It may end up
destroying them. Extrajudicial, unchecked, imperial carte blanche war on
the world is policy. There's no place to hide. No one's immune. Peace
doesn't stand a chance.

He blamed "foreign interference" for Syria's conflict. Most Syrians
"reject all forms of external intervention. For us, it is a matter of
safeguarding Syria."

(O)ur
level of force relate to the types of weapons and terrorism techniques
we are dealing with as well as our ultimate goal of protecting the lives
of civilians and the country as a whole.

Terrorism
can never be the instrument to achieve reforms. What interest does an
internationally listed terrorist from Chechnya or Afghanistan have with
the internal political reform process in Syria?

How is the legitimate demand for reform linked with terrorist activities adopted by radicalized foreign fighters?

Recent
credible reports show that there are approximately 29 nationalities of
foreign fighters engaged in terrorism activities within Syria's borders.

He stressed his commitment to political reforms. Many have been implemented, he said.

"The essence of any political solution is the aspirations of the Syrian
people, decided by the ballot boxes." Syrians alone must decide. No
outside interference is justified. International law prohibits it.

Asked his view on the US/Russian proposed peace conference, he
reiterated support for all ways to end violence diplomatically. A
political settlement depends on it, he stressed.

At the same time, he's justifiably "skeptical of the genuine intentions
of certain western administrations towards seeking a realistic political
solution."

This caution is based on their continued
support of terrorist groups in Syria. We are dedicated to pursuing a
political solution, yet there are powers who are pressing for the
failure of such a solution. This is a two-way process; it needs
commitment from all sides.

(F)oreign-based
opposition elements (are) far from autonomous independent decision
makers. Their policies are crafted by the countries that give them
leverage.

(They) survive on the
aid given to them by their patron states, in essence manipulated by the
nations that provide their flow of finance.

They live under the auspice and control of their intelligence agencies and thus submit to what is imposed upon them.

Therefore their decisions are not self-governing; most significantly, they lack a popular base in Syria.

It's well-documented¦that they have until last week clearly and repeatedly rejected political dialogue.

He
stressed his commitment "to a comprehensive national dialogue (with)
all who have a genuine desire to participate, with no exclusions."

He rejects doing so with terrorists. "There is no state that would ever
negotiate with terrorists. However, we welcome those who lay down their
weapons and engage in constructive political dialogue."

Our assumption is that these countries would
not cease this policy as their main goal is to undermine and thus weaken
the Syrian state.

Even when we
succeed in reaching a Syrian-led political agreement, certain countries
such as Qatar, Turkey and others will continue to work to fuel violence
and terrorism in Syria.

Therefore,
our main precedence from an international conference is an immediate
cessation of finance and weapons that are regularly streamed into Syria,
placing emphasis on preventing the terrorists and fighters from being
flooded into Syria principally through Turkey, with financial support
primarily from Qatar and also from other Gulf countries such as Saudi
Arabia.

He understands "major international powers" are involved. So is Israel.

Asked if he'd step down, he said "Syrian people will decide whether I
remain in office or not.Through the constitution and the presidential
elections in 2014, the people will decide."

He rejects Obama, Kerry or other external figures interfering in Syria's
internal affairs. They have no mandate to speak for Syrians.

To be even more concise and clear, we are an
independent state, we are a people who respect ourselves and our right
to self-determination.

We do not accept for anyone to dictate to us how to act, whether it is the United States or any other country.

Syria's
in crisis, he stressed. "Any abandonment of my duties now is an attempt
to escape from responsibility and I'm not the type of person who runs
away from his responsibilities."

He categorically denied repeated allegations that Syria used chemical
weapons. They're "a clear pretext for military intervention. It is
common knowledge that western administrations lie continuously and
manufacture stories as a pretext for war."

Washington and other major powers "delegated Israel to commit its
aggression in order to improve the morale of the terrorist groups."

They did so because Syrian forces "shift(ed) the balance of power on the
ground. (They want) to prolong the violence and bloodshed (to)
significantly weaken the Syrian state." He believes "military action"
may be forthcoming.

The primary aim of the West is to ensure that
they have 'loyal' governments at their disposal, similar to those
administrations that existed previously in Latin America, which
facilitate the exploitation and consumption of a country's national
resources.

A country like Syria
is not by any means a satellite state to the West. Syria is an
independent state working for the interests of its people, rather than
making the Syrian people work for the interests of the West.

It
is only normal that they would not want us to play a role, preferring
instead a puppet government serving their interests and creating
projects that would benefit their peoples and economies.

Syria
is strategically placed not just for oil and gas projects, but also to
shift the balance of power between the major players.

They're committed to war. They abhor peace. They menace humanity. They
may end up destroying it. Their arsenals make it easy. Don't bet against
their use full force.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com
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